The interesting details of border
settlement in this country have so often been the theme of remark that
they become trite mattes of history. The solemn and deepening shade of
antiquity is beginning to clothe them with its mysterious interest, and
as the immediate actors leave us, slowly and silently fading away from
among the living, their memory is cherished as the pride of their
kindred, and they come to be regarded as the benefactors of their
country. The Pioneers of Orleans County are not all dead, but the times
of their trouble have gone by. The Holland Purchase is settled, subdued,
and made the cheerful home of an industrious and thriving population,
now in their turn sending out their caravans of emigrants with the
fervent spirit of their fathers, carrying the arts and institutions of
our favored country to those new States so rapidly growing up in the
regions of the West. All the improvements in science and the arts are
brought to aid the swift progress of our people in spreading themselves
over our entire national territory.

If the earlier march of emigration and settlement, from the Atlantic
westward has been toilsome and slow, and two hundred years scarce
brought settlers to the great lakes, and the slopes of the Alleghanies,
what shall we say of the advances of the last fifty years, and which are
now going forward?

Since the first tree fell here under the ax of the white

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Man, the triumphs of steam power have appeared.--By the help of this
tremendous agent, a voyage across the Atlantic, which took the Mayflower
months to accomplish, is now made in a week. A trip to Boston, which
once cost these pioneers a month to perform, is now the business of a
day. Steam drives our mills, carries our burdens, plows our fields, warm
out houses, digs our canals, and furnishes a motive power, to effect the
mightiest and minutest work attempted by the ingenuity of man.

But steam, though admitted to be strong is voted slow, in this fast
age, and electricity is sent out to run the errands of our ordinary
business.

Excelsior! Higher! Is the motto of our noble Empire State, and
Forward is the cry of encouragement with which Young American stimulated
its ardor in the race for victory.

My friends, we who are the juniors of these noble men, whose praise
we have thus faintly endeavored to celebrate, should never forget that
we are building upon foundations they had laid for us. That we inherit
the lands their hands have cleared; that we enjoy the liberties they
have achieved.

We shall ever admire their enterprise, patience and fortitude. We
shall justly feel proud to claim acquaintance, perhaps relationship with
such worthy predecessors.

We shall teach our children the story of their labors and success, as
examples to be imitated; and from every, memorial they have left us of
strenuous effort in a good cause, take courage and gain strength to help
our resolution in the performance of all the duties, which have fallen
to our lot. And when we look about us upon the board patrimony we have
derived from them and take an inventory of the abundant good things they
have bequested to us, as the fruits of their labors, let us not forget
our duty of

gratitude to the memory of these our benefactors, to whom we owe so
much, nor fail to improve as we ought, the rich inheritance we enjoy.

Venerable Pioneers---You have not met on the present occasion
to gratify your vanity by publishing to the world the exploits you have
performed, or boasting for the wonder of other to the marvelous
adventures you may have achieved; but, like a company of weary
travelers, life's toilsome journey almost done,--you are here to spend
an evening house in social converse, on scenes you have witnessed by the
way, to bring to mind again the stirring events in which you have been
called to mingle; and to soothe your spirits by a grateful recollection
of that kind Providence which has sustained you in all your toils and
brought you in old age to the abundant enjoyment and realization of the
most ardent hopes of your youth.

You have seen the country of your choice a gloomy wilderness. You now
behold it, by your exertions changed to cultivated fields, and dotted
over with noble houses, interspersed with thriving villages and
connected by public highways.

Where a few years ago you hunted the savage bear, your splendid herds
and numerous flocks now roam and feed in safety. Where but lately you
was compelled to grope your way from town to town through pathless
woods, by marked trees, or Indian trails, the railroad or telegraph
afford you means of communication, in which time and distance are
scarcely items in the account of delay.

The rich produce of your fields, instead of rotting on you hands,
valueless because no buyer could be found, commands at all times the
highest price in the markets of the world.

The howl of the wolf is exchanged for the scream of the steam
whistle, and though you live so far inland, the gallant steam vessel is made to float by your very doors.

How astonishing, how stupendous the change! We have read of the
Wonderful Lamp of Aladdin, and stories of Oriental necromancy, where by
the superhuman power of magic, and the agency of demons, the loftiest
works of art, and the noblest productions of industry and skill were
made to appear or vanish at a word,--but the magic which wrought the
works we celebrate, was the power of indomitable energy, applied with
strong hands and stubborn perseverance. The mighty improvements which
excite our admiration are only the happy results of your steady, well
directed industry overcoming its early discouragements and trials,--the
honorable testimonials of the sternest conflict and most complete
success.

Fortunate men and women! Long, long may you live, enjoying the rich
fruits of your early toils. And may you be permitted to witness the
return of many anniversaries of your present association, happy in the
consciousness that you have accomplished the object of your youthful
ambition, and leaving, when at least you shall be called to your rest, a
noble history, and a worthy example, embalmed in the memory of your
grateful posterity.